Disappointing Loss to Duke Can’t Overshadow Amazing Overachieving Spartans Tournament Run, As Izzo Eyes Changes To His Program

Disappointing Loss to Duke Can’t Overshadow Amazing Overachieving Spartans Tournament Run, As Izzo Eyes Changes To His Program Lucas Oil Stadium

Disappointing Loss to Duke Can’t Overshadow Amazing Overachieving Spartans Tournament Run, As Izzo Eyes Changes To His Program

Lucas Oil Stadium

Indianapolis, IN

At this point in the Tom Izzo reign at Michigan State you can never call them Cinderella. Still the number seven seed Spartans improbably NCAA tournament run came to an end here in Indianapolis tonight with a 81 to 61 loss to the Duke Blue Devils.

Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski said of the contest, “We beat a heck of a team, a championship team, championship program in Tom's program. Our guys knew how difficult a game it was going to be. After the first four minutes, we found out it was going to be more difficult than we even thought. Our kids for the next 36 minutes, they played lights-out basketball. The defense was terrific. We drove the ball with such strength. I actually think our offense gave our defense a push in how hard we were taking it to the basket. Our bench, all eight guys, played really well tonight. Yeah, the last 36 minutes, we played great basketball. That's the best we've played in a tournament, and we've played really well in the tournament.”

The Spartans did not play as well as they have and they lost to a significantly more talented and better team. There is no shame in that and the Spartan Nation while disappointed tonight, should not be dismayed nor discourage, rather excited to be given another Final Four (seven in total now for Izzo) run.

With 16:19 left in the first half the Spartans held their largest lead of the game, eight, but the Blue Devils simply took over from that point on. Duke and their eight McDonald’s All American’s couldn’t be controlled by Tom Izzo’s one and as he called his team in the past, “Burger King All Americans.”

Coming into the game I said that if these two teams played 10 times I would expect MSU to win four. I also said how the game was called would be the biggest factor. Duke is a finesse team that craves a closely called game. MSU likes a physical approach. The previous eight games the referees have let the Spartans play that game. Tonight they did not.

Now make no mistake, I don’t think the refs were unfair. A fact I stated on social media during the contest and it got me multiple suggestions from Spartan fans encouraging me to, “Go kill yourself,” and “Stop rooting for Duke you fat F***,” and of course encouraging me to invent new orifices to shove my opinions. The point was college basketball has been vocal that they want to change the game.

Every official, player and coach will make mistakes and you can point to two big Duke flops for sure and a nearly decapitating blow on Clark, but there were missed calls on the Spartans. The state of college basketball on the sports largest stage is clearly in trouble, but the powers that run the sport can’t come to consensus to fix it when so many want the physicality that the Spartans thrive and play within removed. It is: a quagmire.

Izzo admitted as much. “I got to do a better job of coaching. It's the way it's going to be called. I got to do a better job of recruiting because I'm just going to get guys that can drive. That's the way the game has changed.”

Izzo elaborated when pressed to explain his statement. Blunt as always he did. “I think it's just a drive and get fouled. You know, you're not allowed to touch anybody anymore. I was here when we had smash mouth basketball. I totally agree. I don't think that's the right way to do it. But I also don't think -- I don't think anybody wants to see the best players on the bench. I mean, I don't blame the officials. I blame me. I'm on the board. It's not as much fun to coach when you're constantly telling guys, Don't touch 'em, don't move. We had some fouls we deserved, but there were to me probably some right calls, but bizarre. I don't want to complain about the fouls anymore. We got our butts beat. I still say most of it was our fault. They didn't turn the ball over, the officials or the rules. They didn't take bad shots. That was us. We did. As proud as I am of my team, I'm disappointed about that. That's just the way it is. I'm not wired real good to say that we did everything right and Duke just played good. Duke played good, Michigan State didn't play good. There are reasons both ways.”

The refs called it tight and in my opinion that is ruining college basketball, but they called it nearly the same. While Duke kept driving to the bucket getting fouls, the Spartans often settled for jump shots that don’t produce contact and thus fouls.

As Jud Heathcote always said, “People have jobs and bosses” and the refs wanted a tight game. All you can ask is that they call it fairly, even if you don’t like the way they call. MSU couldn’t adjust and it cost them. My comments were solely based on the fairness of the officiating not the state of the game, which I am documented as calling in critical condition. In 40 minutes of basketball there were 46 (28 for MSU 18 for Duke) personal fouls called.

This is the third time in a row a tightly called game against Duke led to the Spartans losing. It happened earlier this year back here in Indianapolis and in 2013 in the NCAA tournament.

While the game is changing the Spartans run is still no less heroic. When I suggested in early January that Spartans fans needed to enjoy the season because this WAS NOT one of Tom Izzo’s best teams, I was mocked. Something he admitted. This wasn’t his most talented team, but it was his best coaching job. It was truly an amazing job.

MSU had no business being here on paper, but paper doesn’t judge heart and this team had it. Decades from now when Izzo is long gone from not only the Spartan bench, but from this earth, basketball historians will still talk about this run.

Tom Izzo was gracious in defeat. “Well, we got beat. Unfortunately I thought Duke played awfully well, but I thought it wasn't one of our better games. I think they deserve some credit. Yet I feel bad because I didn't think people got to see the team that has won 12 out of the last 15 games. Give Duke credit and give our seniors credit for getting us to a place that most people didn't think we'd get to.”

That is why a disappointing loss in the Final Four shouldn’t hamper the appreciation of the run. That would be unfair to Izzo, the team and to the Spartan Nation itself. Only when you look at the run through the realistic lens of the talent the Spartans had and who they faced is that clear.

Had the refs called the game tight like they did tonight, MSU would have probably lost to Louisville in Syracuse, Oklahoma in Syracuse and maybe even Georgia in Charlotte. In the previous four seasons Spartan fans could be disappointed in the Spartans. None of those teams left the court having given it all. This one did. As a fan and as people that is all you can ask. “Give your best.” This team did. Peaking at the right time, not quitting and getting the most of what they had.

For the game Duke shot 27 of 37 from the free throw line. Michigan State was 10-16. MSU shot 40% while Duke was an impressive 50%. Denzel Valentine led the way with 22 points, Travis Trice added 16 and Branden Dawson had 12. Those were the only Spartans to get into double digits.

At the end of the game, Branden Dawson came off the court for the last time. He and Izzo had a prolonged discussion and when asked Valentine relayed what was said. Once again it showed a glimpse in to the class and character of these Spartan young men.

“I just looked at him, I said, I'm going to get you here next year, coach. It was a heck of a run. I'm just mad we lost because of BJ, Trav, what they've been through, what we've been through as a team this season. We got to tip our hat off to Duke. They were the better team today.”

In the end, gathered in their locker room after the game Tom Izzo had one message to his team. He simply told them, “How proud I was of them. This team, you know, they took a lot this year, from our own fans at times, from people. I understand why. But this team played pretty well all year. We just missed a lot of free throws early. I kept saying that. I don't think anybody was drinking the Kool-Aid, but I was. And thank God I was, because I think that kept our head above water to be able to explain that.”

In the coming weeks we will look ahead. The future is bright in the Spartan Nation. For now we look back fondly at this run, this team and this coach. MSU lost a game tonight, but they won the season, they will hang a banner and gave Spartan Nation a reason to be proud. Very proud.

This reporter has no hesitation calling this Tom Izzo’s best coaching job and an amazing one it was. It’s OK to be disappointed, but you should be pleased. Come November the Spartans will have another banner to hang and another Final Four to seek.